5 Need to Read Suicide Squad Comic Books

With Suicide Squad hitting theaters this week, we're bringing back our list of must-read comics featuring Task Force X. See where Deadshot, Harley Quinn and the rest got their start before making their big jump to the silver screen.

Editor's Note: this article originally ran December 9, 2014.

Classic Suicide Squad

If you want an idea of what the Suicide Squad is, who its members are, and what role it plays in the DC Universe, it's best to go back to the beginning. While the Suicide Squad concept was created in the late '50s, the team as it exists today was created by writer John Ostrander in the 1980's. Ostrander's Suicide Squad series combined new creations like Amanda Waller with formerly obscure villains like Deadshot and Captain Boomerang. With DC veering more towards darker, grounded takes on its characters in the wake of the Crisis on Infinite Earths mini-series, Suicide Squad was perfectly poised to tell a story of hardened villains carrying out deadly missions and explore the espionage side of the DCU.

Ostrander's long tenure defined the team and will surely have a strong influence on the movie. The only problem is that DC doesn't make it easy to read these older stories. Currently, the only Ostrander-penned Suicide Squad collection still in print is the comparatively recent Suicide Squad: From the Ashes. This trade in itself is a good entry point into the franchise, as it saw Ostrander work to revamp the the Suicide Squad again for a 21st Century DC. But we're hoping that the new movie will convince DC to start issuing a new, comprehensive lineup of Suicide Squad collections.

What to Read:

Suicide Squad: From the Ashes by John Ostrander & Javier Pina

Modern Suicide Squad

After falling out of the spotlight for years, DC brought the Suicide Squad back in a big way with the New 52 relaunch. Suicide Squad Vol. 4 was among the 52 new comics launched in September 2011, and the series has (mostly) remained a mainstay ever since. The series has been through several creative teams since 2011, with the current New Suicide Squad comic being helmed by writer Sean Ryan and artist Jeremy Roberts.

Unfortunately, the New 52 Suicide Squad stories aren't generally at the level of the classic Ostrander material. That said, these comics certainly have their moments (particularly during Ales Kot's brief four-issue story arc). And it's clear that the New 52 incarnation of the Suicide Squad will factor heavily into the movie. It wasn't until the New 52 that Harley Quinn became associated with the franchise. We'd be surprised if Harley and her growing romance with Deadshot doesn't become a focus in the movie as it has in the comics.

The New 52 Suicide Squad is also important in how it establishes Amanda Waller's role in the DCU. Waller has evolved into a Nick Fury-like figure since the New 52 started. She doesn't just lead the Squad, she's also the head of the global peacekeeping agency known as A.R.G.U.S. This has informed Waller's portrayal in the Arrow TV series, and DC's movies will likely follow suit.

Harley Quinn is more popular than ever these days. We can only assume that Harley and her troubled relationship with Joker will be a central focus of the Suicide Squad movie, regardless of whether Mister J is a member of the Squad or the primary villain. Anyone craving more back-story on Harley's origins would do well to check out the collection Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories.

Mad Love was crafted by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, two of the driving forces behind Batman: The Animated Series. The duo explored Harley's history as a once-promising psychiatrist who fell head over heels for her patient and became Joker's adoring sidekick. It's a tragic story, but also one that proves Harley can and will emerge from Joker's shadow when given the opportunity.

Mad Love is extremely influential as far as Harley stories go, even eventually being adapted into the final BTAS episode. It also paved the way for Harley to transition from the animated universe into DC's core comic universe. The Suicide Squad script pretty much has to rely on Mad Love for inspiration.

What to Read:

Batman: Mad Love by Paul Dini & Bruce Timm

Joker's Solo Adventures

It's not often that you see Joker without Batman dogging at his heels. Batman is basically Joker's reason for existing, after all, and his career is devoted to making the Caped Crusader realize the joke that is life.

That said, there are comics that focus on Joker as a protagonist. The most notable in recent years is the graphic novel Joker by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo. Joker offers a gritty, even seedy look at Gotham's underbelly. The story, framed through the eyes of an ordinary criminal, follows Joker after his release from Arkham as he begins tightening his grip on the city again. Most of the iconic Batman rogues appear (including an eerily silent Harley Quinn), but Batman himself is all but absent.

The grounded approach to portraying Gotham's denizens, as well as its hyper-real art style, led many to believe the graphic novel was intended as a follow-up to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. It isn't, but it does offer a clear blueprint for how the villain can be handled independent of Batman.

What to Read:

Joker by Brian Azzarello & Lee Bermejo

The Secret Six

We can probably assume that Deadshot will be a central figure in the movie, if for no other reason than WB cast Will Smith in the role. You don't hire Smith to stand in the background and crack wise every once in a while. And while Ostrander's Suicide Squad work was essential in fleshing out this villain, we also recommend checking out another comic revolving around a dysfunctional team of villains.

Like the Suicide Squad, the Secret Six concept was introduced decades ago but thoroughly revamped for modern readers. Gail Simone first introduced her take on the team in 2005's Villains United mini-series. Eventually the Secret Six spun out into an ongoing series that lasted right up until the New 52 relaunch in 2011. Deadshot was a recurring member of the team throughout these years. Simone focused a great deal on fleshing out Floyd Lawton's past, his psychology, and his relationship with his daughter. At one point the team even crossed over with Ostrander's Suicide Squad, with Deadshot being torn between his former and current teams.

DC's Secret Six trade paperbacks have started to go out of print. Luckily, with a new Secret Six comic having just launched last week, they've commissioned a new series of trades set to start hitting in 2015.